MOLS and MOONS

Hi Paul, following on from your earlier MOL feature, here is the lid of the Revell kit mentioned. Regards, Andy B.

Wow! Thanks Andy. WACO made the same thing in tin, the Space Refuel Station seen below [vintage space toys.com]. I love all those guys garbed in orange overalls beavering away at who knows what! I've oft dreamt of a plastic toy version of this out there somewhere.

MOL modules remind me of the classic Moon Base pods as seen below in an original 1960's artist's impression supplied to Wote by space historian David Portree.

Andy B also provided this Walls Sky Ray lollipop card below from the Sixties featuring a beautiful little artwork of a very similar Moon Base concept and so SpaceXy!

Speaking of which, here she is, our very own SpaceX Moon Base as seen on the box. I'm assuming a Moon Base would be referred to as a 'she' in the same way ships are. MOLS are no doubt feminine as well but don't ask a gangster!

Mysterious Invaders by Zee Toys

Unlike SpaceX, I never owned any of the cool US Apollo Moon Exploring toys as a nipper in 1970 but since finding out about them from my esteemed colleagues, Mssrs. Wotan, Vreede and Toad, in the late 1990's, I have been fascinated by them and any related toys. The red glider, above, is a link craft to several other series including the carded Mysterious Invaders UFO's by Zee Toys 1978. Featured below are three of the four spacecraft. From top to bottom Phobos, Rombus [the green Glider] and the Space Saucer. The fourth one Gemini, pictured on the card back below, is missing here and I can't find a piccy of the carded toy. As for those pictured I love the fact that they were available in Toys R Us, which somehow makes them feel quite modern to me.

[Zee Pictures: toyriffics Ebay]

As a footnote to this Zee bloglet I'm always amused as to how vintage toys are grouped together by collectors alike. Here are two cocktails which both include a Zee Mysterious Invader UFO, the lurid green Rombus in the top shot [Wotan's window sill - picture not found as yet - still looking!] and the missing Gemini, albeit somewhat partial, in my own first collectables grouping, just below the upright tinplate rocket.

Pet Prospector

I had to laugh when I saw this Prospectoresque/ Sand Flea- like toy recently. Described as a Hamster Moon Buggy from what I like to think as Project G.N.A.W.D [any more suggestions?]! Wonder if any rodents ever made it into space as stowaways? Anyways, any other pics of SWORDesque or Spacexish space toys for pets welcomed!

Mystery Toy

Along with two JR21 TB craft, this strange plastic blue toy recently sold on Fleabay. It looks like an airport luggage carrier? Or an amphibious car? Listed as JR21 I contacted the seller for any further info regarding makers' mark and model number. As there were none I decided it wasn't JR21. Anyone know what it is? PS. the lot sold for £4.99!

Small is Beautiful

A number of great piccies sadly never made it into the last FAB SWORD article. Here's one, a cool SpaceX family portrait from the mighty Wotan. What's the odd one out?

Tri-ang Battle Space 1967

Paul,

wondered if this 1967 gem might be useful on blog? From Boys World Annual, a sort of combined feature/advert for a railway space kit: Tri-ang Battle Space.

Regards,

Andy B

Cheers Andy, talk about product placement! Woodsy!

Postcard from the Island: High Down Rocket Testing Base and SWORD HQ

Just like writing my snailmail postcards here in a fine Freshwater pub [apologies for the sunbaked cranium!], here's my second e-postcard from the beautiful Isle of Wight. The two photo-groups both cover what proved to be a really exciting day out, which even had a SWORD connection thrown in.

At the remote southern point of the Island are The Needles, a family of limestone spears of rock jutting out of the sea. Next to this dramatic and lonely spot lies the abandoned High Down Rocket Testing Site, one of only several Cold War rocket facilities that operated in the UK and clear evidence that us Brits did actually take part in the Space Race! Now run by the National Trust, this creaky old site captures perfectly what must have been a strange and secretive existence for the 200 personnel who worked there.

The site was for testing rocket engines and the odd satellite. No rockets flew there. So sensitive it was guarded by Police who lived in cottages above it. From High Down the rockets and selected personnel were transported to Woomera in Australia, were the rockets actually flew. You'll remember Swordies that Woomera features in the SWORD strip as SWORD Earth Base! Me and the Missus had a thoroughly testtastic trip, by VW Camper to the stars! Enjoy the photo's and visit High Down if you can.

Congrats

From reader Andy B.

Cheers Andy!